WrestleMania is has been consigned to the history, and last night the Backlash was felt. But tonight on Monday Night Raw, hope springs eternal once again as we kick off the 2007 King of the Ring!

Backlash saw a titanic WWE Championship Match between Rob Van Dam and John Cena come right down to the wire, thanks to the unwanted interference of Mr. McMahon and his hired help, Bobby Lashley. After Lashley attacked both champion and challenger, it was finally Van Dam who rallied and struck back, forcing McMahon and Lashley from the ring for long enough to allow the title match to continue. After grabbing a dramatic win over Cena, ‘RVD’ will no doubt be pleased about gaining a victory over perhaps the biggest star in the WWE. But what’s next for both men is a far different question. Both will no doubt be seething over the arrogance of McMahon as he sent his charge to the ring, with Cena in particular perhaps looking for a way to finally settle things with Lashley. As for ‘RVD’, the WWE Champion will no doubt be ready for his next challenger, a challenger that could emerge as soon as tonight.

As for McMahon, he no doubt will have his attention on boardroom matters this evening, as the WWE Board of Directors reconvene after a two week deliberation period to finally come to a decision with regards as to whether it will be Vince or Linda McMahon who leads the show in the future. Both have campaigned tirelessly at boardroom level, and their desire to take full control of the WWE’s flagship show was on full display last night at Backlash, even if many were left shocked by Vince’s refusal to accompany his wife and daughter as they left the arena for the hospital with his son in law, Triple H. Tonight, we’ll finally find out just which McMahon will have the power on Raw, a night that could truly shape the entire future of the WWE and Monday Night Raw.

One man who won’t be in attendance this evening is Triple H, who is still in a Memphis hospital due to the injuries he suffered during last night’s No Holds Barred Match with Shawn Michaels. The two hammered each other back and forth, but ultimately it was Michaels who would deliver the killer blow, bringing Triple H’s trusty sledgehammer crashing down on the skull of ‘The Game’ to get the three count. After the bell, Michaels performed the disgusting act of blessing Triple H as he was led out of the arena, something which drew the ire of all inside the building, including Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, who slapped Michaels hard across the face for his actions. Tonight, Michaels is in the building and will address the crowd, no doubt letting us all in on where his metamorphic journey is set to take him next.

By hook or by crook, both Kenny Dykstra and Randy Orton left Backlash still in possession of the Intercontinental Championship and the Money in the Bank briefcase respectively. The men who missed out last night, Carlito and Jeff Hardy, both get an immediate chance to get back to winning ways as they compete in the first qualifying round of the 2007 King of the Ring tournament. Hardy will face the grizzled veteran Hardcore Holly, while Carlito will square off against Mike Knox. A third qualifying match will also take place, with CM Punk taking on Trevor Murdoch. It’s a chance for all six men to make a big statement and advance in the tournament, one they will all no doubt be eager to take as we count down to the Saturday Night’s Main Event special.

All of this, plus we’ll hear from the new Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix after her victory last night, there will be interviews with Randy Orton, Kenny Dykstra and the World Tag Team Champions, the World’s Greatest Tag Team, Johnny Nitro and Chris Masters look to gain a measure of revenge over The Hart Legacy in a Backlash rematch of sorts, and the European aristocrat, Claudio Cesaro will make his WWE debut tonight!